Disease Prevention in Spring Born Calves
Aidan Cushnahan, Dairying Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Introduction
Calf rearing is an important job on the dairy farm. Calves that receive inadequate attention during the first weeks of life are more prone to disease and the resultant treatment of diseases such as scour and pneumonia significantly add to the costs associated with rearing calves. The following article will deal with factors to be considered when developing a disease prevention strategy for scour and pneumonia.
Calf Scour
Scour is the biggest killer of calves under one month old in the United Kingdom and it is estimated that the direct cost associated with an individual case of calf scour is around £46. There are two causes of scour – nutritional and infectious, and there are number of key management actions that can be taken to minimise scour problems. They include:
- Ensure all newborn calves receive adequate colostrum
- Maintain a regular feeding regime
- When using milk replacers follow the mixing instructions precisely
- Power hose and disinfect all calf pens after each batch of calves
- Calving boxes should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least twice during the calving season
- Avoid mixing calves of different ages and sources
- Keep the stress from dehorning and movement to a minimum
- Isolate sick calves promptly
- If Rotavirus or E. coli has been diagnosed as a persistent and troublesome problem, then consider vaccination.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a respiratory disease that reduces performance and unless treated effectively will result in the death of the calf. The direct cost associated with treating a case of pneumonia has been estimated to be around £57. Steps which should be taken to prevent cases of pneumonia include:
- Ensure adequate colostrum intake
- Keep the bedding dry with good drainage and frequent cleaning
- Prevent high humidity through effective ventilation
- Avoid draughts at calf level
- Avoid overcrowding
- House yearlings and young calves separately
- Minimise stress among calves
- After discussion with your veterinary surgeon consider the use of vaccination if a particular organism has been identified as the cause of pneumonia
Summary
Cases of scour and pneumonia will significantly increase the costs associated with rearing spring born heifer calves on your farm. Care and attention should be paid to setting up effective strategies to prevent incidences of these diseases. The control and prevention of calf diseases is one of a number of topics dealt with in the Animal Health Challenge for Dairy Farmers. Contact your local Dairying Development Adviser to examine how participating in the Animal Health Challenge can develop your business
James Lynn, Cullybackey, Seamus McMullan, Martinstown and Michael Woodside, Clare Veterinary Group discuss disease prevention strategies with Aidan Cushnahan during a recent visit to the Focus Farm of David Wallace, Antrim